James "Jim" Daniel Torlakson is an American artist known for his photorealist oil paintings, watercolors and aquatint intaglio etchings. See: www.jamestorlakson.com Early life Born in San Francisco, California on February 19, 1951. Growing up in the Westlake neighborhood of Daly City, Torlakson moved to Pacifica by the sea in 1971 where he has lived since becoming a professional artist. He started drawing at an early age, encouraged by his parents, who entered a drawing of his in the San Francisco Chronicle "Daily Junior Art Champion" when he was six years old; he was awarded first prize. He studied general fine arts and received a B.F.A. in 1971 at California College of the Arts, graduating before going onto complete a Masters of Arts in 1975 at San Francisco State University. Work Torlakson’s photorealism subject matter and imagery have centered on “every day” America including trucks, railways, amusement parks, waterfronts, fireworks booths, deserted drive-in theaters and coastal la